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Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria is going even greener

Allan Hancock College is installing solar panel canopies above parking lots at the college’s Santa Maria campus
Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College is installing solar panel canopies above parking lots at the college’s Santa Maria campus

New solar panels being installed at the Central Coast college will generate more than 3.9 million kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable electricity.

Once in operation, the new solar panels at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria will generate enough electricity to power the annual electrical use of 350 homes.

"It will generate a net savings to the college of about $4 million over the course of the lifespan of the project of 20 years," explained Hancock Facilities Director Steve Marshall.

The 6000 solar panels will be installed across multiple parking canopies on campus.

Marshall said the canopies don't just provide energy, but also shade for students, staff and visitors when parking vehicles on site.

The college expects installation to be complete in Spring 2024.

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Since joining the station she's also won 10 Golden Mike Awards, 6 Los Angeles Press Club Awards, 4 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Writing.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded by Prince Philip for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for eleven years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.